General : Virgin TV (2024)

[vincerooney]

personally i love the tv360. apps are more zippy. recordings work just as well in my opinion as the v6. i can get into the next episode of a show on an app within a few seconds.

sky sports+ is great too.

even my mum is getting the hang of it and shes 73. it was quite a change for her to begin with but shes got the hang of it now

[johnasimmons]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

personally i love the tv360. apps are more zippy. recordings work just as well in my opinion as the v6. i can get into the next episode of a show on an app within a few seconds.

sky sports+ is great too.

even my mum is getting the hang of it and shes 73. it was quite a change for her to begin with but shes got the hang of it now

I agree, I find the TV360 software much better. I know some people miss certain things with the TiVo but at the end of the day the 360 seems better for streaming apps, plus you get Sky Sports+

My Dad is 93 and finds it much easier to work!

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by epsilon

Just Watch etc have similar features. Relying on Virgin to provide aggregated watchlists isn't a particularly sensible thing to do.You are surrendering control of your entertainment to them.It's only a matter of time before other streamers refuse permission for this sort of aggregation, as we have already seen with Netflix.

I don’t understand that comment. What are we surrendering to them?

The process I use to add anything to the Virgin watchlist is to select the programmes from the TV listings publication I subscribe to and then add those programmes from the channels and the streamers. The watchlist then provides me with a handy reminder of the content that I wish to view. So what am I surrendering?

You make an interesting point about Netflix, and I don’t know why they have introduced this policy. By not permitting a search to be done of the content I want to select, I can’t add it to my watchlist. This means I tend to watch more from the other streamers simply because Netflix content is not immediately visible. I don’t want to use a separate watchlist from each streamer that I use.

Seems to me they’ve shot themselves in the foot.

---------- Post added at 09:08 ---------- Previous post was at 09:04 ----------

Originally Posted by johnasimmons

I agree, I find the TV360 software much better. I know some people miss certain things with the TiVo but at the end of the day the 360 seems better for streaming apps, plus you get Sky Sports+

My Dad is 93 and finds it much easier to work!

I agree. The menu is nice and uncluttered, so you can find everything very easily. I don’t miss the old TiVo, but I can see why some people like it.

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I don’t understand that comment. What are we surrendering to them?

You are committing to a Virgin contract to bookmark content from 3rd party providers over which they have no overall control (and cannot guarantee continuity).

If you are looking for an all streaming solution, using a streaming stick and throwing in a NOW contract will work out cheaper. That way, you won't be committing to a Virgin contract in the hope that services will continue in the way you expect.

They probably keep the existing systems and routines indefinitely, just as they won't keep Tivo based systems indefinitely.

[Frazz]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Suspect the majority of punters aren't that interested in apps, and just view live TV or recordings. The V6 wins on this.

The 360 is a cost saving for them, as they don't have to pay the Tivo licence. The only thing they are 'upgrading', are their profits.

The apps are on your TV or fire stick anyway

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by Frazz

The apps are on your TV or fire stick anyway

If you’re going to rely on apps I endorse the Apple TV over the fire stick. Yes it’s more expensive (by far) but I got a nice pay over 5 months offer from Amazon prime and I’ve never looked back. So speedy and responsive

[jfman]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

If you’re going to rely on apps I endorse the Apple TV over the fire stick. Yes it’s more expensive (by far) but I got a nice pay over 5 months offer from Amazon prime and I’ve never looked back. So speedy and responsive

Being a subscriber to multiple international streaming services I recommend the Chromecast 4K. Can add a VPN and sideload all the apps on. I upgraded to that from a Fire Stick.

The Apple TV - being a massive subscriber to streaming services so I also own one of those - is a superior product but it leaves you stuck in the sandbox.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by epsilon

You are committing to a Virgin contract to bookmark content from 3rd party providers over which they have no overall control (and cannot guarantee continuity).

If you are looking for an all streaming solution, using a streaming stick and throwing in a NOW contract will work out cheaper. That way, you won't be committing to a Virgin contract in the hope that services will continue in the way you expect.

They probably keep the existing systems and routines indefinitely, just as they won't keep Tivo based systems indefinitely.

No, not if you use Virgin Stream and choose not to pay for the Sky channels. You only pay for the box, not the channels. So effectively you can use Virgin Stream and the apps as well as the Freeview channels without incurring extra monthly costs, and you will have a watchlist.

The only fly in the ointment is if other streamers follow the Netflix decision not to permit its titles to be displayed on the watchlist, which is very short sighted, in my view.

---------- Post added at 18:52 ---------- Previous post was at 18:50 ----------

Originally Posted by Frazz

The apps are on your TV or fire stick anyway

Not with a central watch list that includes the content of both the streamers and the existing TV channels, though.

---------- Post added at 18:57 ---------- Previous post was at 18:52 ----------

Originally Posted by jfman

Being a subscriber to multiple international streaming services I recommend the Chromecast 4K. Can add a VPN and sideload all the apps on. I upgraded to that from a Fire Stick.

The Chromecast 4K is being replaced by the Google TV Streamer in the near future.

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

No, not if you use Virgin Stream and choose not to pay for the Sky channels. You only pay for the box, not the channels. So effectively you can use Virgin Stream and the apps as well as the Freeview channels without incurring extra monthly costs, and you will have a watchlist.


The only fly in the ointment is if other streamers follow the Netflix decision not to permit its titles to be displayed on the watchlist, which is very short sighted, in my view.

Not really the point though is it? I got used to sourcing apps from elsewhere as a V6 user and am used to, and happy, making other arrangements.

Tell me, what use are Virgin's bookmarks if you are watching something on, say, Discovery+ or MUBI, or one of the many other apps that aren't on TV360 & Stream? Sure, alternative arrangements have to be made by V6 users but it seems to me that TV360 users aren't that much better off.

Source the apps from elsewhere and don't rely on what Virgin decides you will need. Virgin only provides a small subset of what is available out there.

---------- Post added at 19:07 ---------- Previous post was at 19:05 ----------

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The Chromecast 4K is being replaced by the Google TV Streamer in the near future.

And your point? All devices are upgraded at some point, as you have already said.

The Google TV Streamer will be quite a lot more expensive, so it might be a good idea to buy the Chromecast and save some cash, while they are still available.

[jfman]

I do hope planned obsolescence isn't part of the glorious streaming future.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by epsilon

Not really the point though is it? I got used to sourcing apps from elsewhere as a V6 user and am used to, and happy, making other arrangements.

Tell me, what use are Virgin's bookmarks if you are watching something on, say, Discovery+ or MUBI, or one of the many other apps that aren't on TV360 & Stream? Sure, alternative arrangements have to be made by V6 users but it seems to me that TV360 users aren't that much better off.

Source the apps from elsewhere and don't rely on what Virgin decides you will need. Virgin only provides a small subset of what is available out there.

---------- Post added at 19:07 ---------- Previous post was at 19:05 ----------

Discovery+ is coming later this year, and I’m not moving to Stream until it arrives.I never watch MUBI, with its advertisements, so that is no deterrent for me.

Obviously, those who prefer to use the less popular streamers may make different decisions, but for me, Virgin Stream just works.

Originally Posted by epsilon

And your point? All devices are upgraded at some point, as you have already said.

The Google TV Streamer will be quite a lot more expensive, so it might be a good idea to buy the Chromecast and save some cash, while they are still available.

My point was simply that Chromecast was being replaced. Simples.

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Discovery+ is coming later this year, and I’m not moving to Stream until it arrives.I never watch MUBI, with its advertisements, so that is no deterrent for me.

Obviously, those who prefer to use the less popular streamers may make different decisions, but for me, Virgin Stream just works.

Right, so you are surrendering your entertainment choices to whatever Virgin decides to offer. I'd prefer to make my own choices.

So you think MUBI has ads? That speaks volumes.

My point was simply that Chromecast was being replaced. Simples.

All devices are eventually, just as the Fire TV Sticks were not too long ago. As far as I'm concerned the new 4K Max is the first Amazon device where a decent number of apps can be loaded before the whole thing falls over, so that's a worthwhile upgrade. Chromecast devices will still work and may be a better choice for those who don't want to use too many apps and prefer the device to be hidden away behind the TV.

---------- Post added at 21:15 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------

Originally Posted by jfman

I do hope planned obsolescence isn't part of the glorious streaming future.

Planned obsolescence has been a thing since manufacturers started to use cheap electrolytic capacitors which blow after a couple of years. Usually just long enough to be outside the warranty period.

In general though, newer devices have more memory, more storage and faster processors. So a better choice for power users.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by epsilon

Right, so you are surrendering your entertainment choices to whatever Virgin decides to offer. I'd prefer to make my own choices.

So you think MUBI has ads? That speaks volumes.


.

Virgin has all the streamers I desire, apart from Discovery+, and I understand negotiations are underway for Max to appear on Virgin’s screens when it appears.

I am surrendering nothing, basically. If Virgin did stop offering any of the streamers I use, which is unlikely, I have them all on my Smart TV and on my Roku and Amazon Fire sticks, so I am well covered.

I was mistaken about MUBI, sorry.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Virgin has all the streamers I desire, apart from Discovery+, and I understand negotiations are underway for Max to appear on Virgin’s screens when it appears.

I am surrendering nothing, basically. If Virgin did stop offering any of the streamers I use, which is unlikely, I have them all on my Smart TV and on my Roku and Amazon Fire sticks, so I am well covered.

I was mistaken about MUBI, sorry.

It sounds like you are surrendering everything to Virgin. You have all the streamers you could possibly want on a "Smart" TV but here you are with the begging bowl out hoping Virgin, or anyone else, will "content aggregate" for you and provide you with a practical interface that even the biggest streaming fantasist cannot possibly dream of.

They've got you over a barrel, OB, for the most simple inadequacies of the streaming services themselves that all of us foreseen.

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Virgin has all the streamers I desire, apart from Discovery+, and I understand negotiations are underway for Max to appear on Virgin’s screens when it appears.

I am surrendering nothing, basically. If Virgin did stop offering any of the streamers I use, which is unlikely, I have them all on my Smart TV and on my Roku and Amazon Fire sticks, so I am well covered.

I was mistaken about MUBI, sorry.

Hmmm. It sounds as if you are willing to wait for Virgin to add the apps even though you have access elsewhere, which sounds to me like surrendering control. Have fun waiting for Virgin to add Max, the process may take about as long as it is taking to add Discovery+.

Virgin are only ever going to offer a handful of apps compared to the hundreds or even thousands available on dedicated devices. Ok, with that many apps there will be a lot of dross that you won't want but there will also be several pearls to be found in there. Of course, you could just dismiss anything not on Virgin as being full of ads, even if they have never seen an ad.

Even with its handful of apps, Virgin still manages to include a lot of dross.